ALMA - The Calvin women's soccer team traveled to Scotland Yard, on
the campus of Alma College, to battle the Scots Wednesday afternoon. The Knights pushed Alma to the brink, but
fell in overtime by a score of 2-1.

The Scots, playing with the wind at their backs, mounted
early pressure on the Knights. At about
the 15 minute mark, the flow of the game changed in Calvin's favor. Calvin nearly broke open the scoring when
freshmen Paige Capel (Hudsonville/Unity Christian HS) broke through the Scot
defense and rifled a shot far post that was saved by sophomore goalkeeper
Morgan Waier.

It was the Scots who would get on the scoreboard first. At the eight minute mark of the first half,
sophomore forward Mackenzie Smith burst down the far sideline, cut back into
the Calvin box, and beat Calvin goalkeeper Ashton Hearn (Port Huron/Port Huron
Northern HS) short side.

Calvin went into the half down a goal.

The second half began, and the Knights showed a jump in
their step. The wind was with Calvin,
and the Knights kept on pressing Alma.
Twenty minutes into the half, senior Francesca Smith (Bloomington,
IN/Bloomington South HS) ripped a shot from 20 yards that hit the crossbar and
came down on the goal line.

Eight minutes later, Calvin would equalize. Junior Kelly Koets (Grandville/Calvin
Christian HS) cracked a shot from 25 yards out into the upper left-hand corner
of the net past the outstretched arm of Waier.
Calvin continued to put pressure on Alma's defense for the remainder of
regulation, but could not beat Waier twice.

Alma opened up the first overtime session with the wind at
its back. This proved to be lethal. With a minute to go, Smith got into the
Calvin box, and sent a low cross finding the foot of junior Kelly Wilson, who
put the ball in the open net.

"We have a very young team," Calvin head coach Mark Recker
commented. "Our ability to press Alma on
their home field to a degree in which they started to question themselves is
impressive."

The Knights outshot the Scots 21-20 as well as holding an
advantage in shots on goal 13-8. Alma
earned eight corner kicks to Calvin's four.
Morgan Waier recorded 12 saves for Alma while Ashton Hearn was credited
with six saves.

"While this is game in the loss column, we took a big step
forward with our confidence and our ability to play with the top teams in the
MIAA," Recker said.

The Knights, now 2-2 (1-1-0 MIAA) on the young season,
return to action Saturday when they host the Albion College Britons. The game is scheduled for a noon kickoff at
Zuidema Field.